Julia Hardeman Rhodes was born in 1876 in Louisville, Georgia. After attending college, she returned to Louisville and married an older man with a disability. Although they had no children, her home was always full of her nieces and nephews. To supplement their income, Julia served lunch on weekdays and later took in female boarders. She was a woman of strong faith and wanted women to aspire to Christian service. In 1905, she undertook a vision of organizing women in local churches on Presbyterial and Synodical levels. In 1906, the ARP women’s ministries organization began as Missionary Societies; later, she organized Second Presbyterial. She also created the Bulletin, the denomination’s first women’s magazine that later became the Journal of Missions, an informational newsletter, which is now The ARP Magazine. Julia Rhodes died of cancer in 1938, but she is remembered for reaching beyond her local church to help organize ARP women across presbyteries and the denomination.

This award is presented to an ARP man or woman who has given long-standing service to his or her local, Presbyterial, and denominational church. He or she epitomizes being a servant of Christ by their love and dedicated service to the ARP Church. If you would like to nominate someone for the 2023 Julia Hardeman Rhodes award, please submit the form by May 1, 2024 and send it to Vicki Marsh, vcmarsh1414@gmail.com.

Previous Winners are listed below

2007 Carole Ellis
2008 Ann Alexander
2009 Dot Tribble
2010 Lucy Patrick
2011 Sarah Ellen Carson
2012 Judi Hodges
2014 Ann Brice
2015 Ann Aheron
2016 Jeanie Alexander
2017 Lynn Grimsley
2020 Gail Fowler
2021 Ann Hicklin
2022 Eleanor Richardson

Click here for the nomination form.